+8615628782329
sales001@bosschemical.com
English
 |
60-00-4
futurechemical
60-00-4
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is an important aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agent. Its chemical formula is usually written as:
C10H16N2O8 (CAS No.: 60-00-4, molecular weight approximately 292.2)
It is a white crystalline powder at room temperature, insoluble in cold water, alcohol, and common organic solvents. Its solubility in water at 25°C is approximately 0.5 g/L. It is slightly soluble in hot water and readily soluble in alkaline solutions such as sodium hydroxide. EDTA is a well-known hexadecimal ligand; all four carboxyl oxygen groups and two amino nitrogen groups in its molecule can act as coordinating atoms, forming very stable chelates with various metal ions such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, and lead.
From a molecular structure perspective, the EDTA molecule consists of an ethylenediamine backbone and four carboxymethyl groups (-CH2COOH), forming a "pincer" structure. Thanks to this multidentate coordination structure, EDTA can form stable chelates with almost all metal ions, creating multiple five-membered rings that "lock" in free metal ions and deactivate them. In food, it prevents metal ions from inducing oxidative deterioration. In scientific research, it is a classic complexometric titration reagent; this "chelate locking" ability is the core mechanism behind its widespread application in both food and scientific research.
Chemically, EDTA metal chelates exhibit good solubility under slightly acidic conditions, and their chelating ability varies with pH. They are incompatible with strong oxidizing agents and strong acids, and may cause slight irritation to the eyes and skin. Store in a dry, sealed container.
Non-cosmetic grade EDTA refers to products used in fields other than cosmetics, primarily including food-grade and reagent-grade specifications. Compared to cosmetic grade EDTA, non-cosmetic grade EDTA focuses more on the following indicators:
Purity and Impurity Control
Food-grade products must meet the requirements for food additives.
Heavy metal limits (lead, arsenic, mercury, etc.)
EDTA used in food has strict limits on harmful impurities such as heavy metals, and is an important safety indicator.
Chelation value
Chelation value (complexing ability) directly determines the effectiveness of applications such as food stabilization and is a core performance indicator.
Moisture
Excessive moisture content can affect measurement accuracy and formula stability, and must be kept at a low level.
1. Water treatment (core application)
EDTA is the most commonly used chelating agent and descaling agent in water treatment. It can complex calcium and magnesium ions in water to soften the water quality and prevent scale formation in boilers, heat exchangers and pipes. It is also used for chemical cleaning of power plant boilers. It is safe, reliable and effective, and is an important agent in industrial water treatment.
2. Food additives (food grade)
EDTA and its sodium and calcium salts can be used as antioxidant and preservative synergists in food, helping edible oils, beverages, canned foods maintain their color and flavor, and preventing oxidative deterioration caused by metal ions. The amount used must comply with the standards for the use of food additives.
3. Industrial cleaning and metal surface treatment
EDTA is used in metal cleaning and descaling formulations to help remove oxides, scale and metal ion stains from metal surfaces. It is also used in electroplating solutions and metal surface treatments to complex and control metal ion concentrations.
4. Household cleaning and descaling (consumer grade)
EDTA is an effective component of household descaling agents and cleaning agents, helping to remove limescale and metal ion stains from kettles and water heaters, making it an "invisible helper" in our home cleaning.
5. Chelated micronutrient fertilizers (agriculture)
When EDTA is combined with trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese to form chelated fertilizers (such as EDTA-Fe and EDTA-Zn), it can significantly improve the absorption efficiency of trace elements by crops and prevent the elements from precipitating and becoming ineffective in the soil. It is an important and efficient fertilizer for modern agriculture.
6. Textile printing and dyeing and papermaking
In textile printing and dyeing, and in papermaking processes, EDTA is used to soften water, chelate metal ions like iron and copper, prevent metal ions from reacting with dyes to cause colour spots and affect bleaching effect, and to enhance product quality and process stability.
7. Shampoo, Conditioner & Cleansing Products (Core usage)
EDTA is used in cleaning products such as shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and facial cleansers. EDTA chelates calcium and magnesium ions in hard water, preventing them from reacting with surfactants to form soap scum, improving the quality of foam and cleaning effect, and reducing the interference of metal ions on the formula. This is the classic application of the chelating agent in a cleansing cosmetic.
8. Makeup products
EDTA is used in makeup products such as foundation, lipstick and eyeshadow to stabilise the pigments and ingredients in the formula, prevent discolouration and deterioration caused by metal ions, and maintain the long-term stability of the product’s colour and texture.
9. Sunscreen and functional products
Functional skincare products and sun screen active ingredients are metal ion sensitive. The active ingredients are chelated by EDTA to prevent degradation, which improves the protective and efficacy performance of the product.
10. Personal care products
( 1 ) EDTA is used in skin care formulas , like face cream , lotion and toner , to prevent the oxidation of oils and active ingredients by chelating metal ions , such as iron and copper . This prevents the product from changing colour , taste and layering , maintains the stability and texture of the formula and enhances the effectiveness of preservatives .
( 2 ) EDTA is used in toothpaste and other oral care products to stabilise the formula and to chelate interfering ions, thus helping to maintain product uniformity and stability of active ingredients.
11. Other Applications
the development of scientific research , the application scope of non-cosmetic grade EDTA continues to expand, including teaching experiments, supply of standard reagents, and customization of fine chemicals .
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a white powder aminopolycarboxylic acid chelator. It has a hexadentate ligand structure, so it forms stable chelates with practically all metal ions. We encounter it indirectly in our everyday lives in cosmetics, personal care products, food, drinking water softening, household cleaners, and agricultural products. In non-cosmetic applications, food-grade and reagent-grade EDTA are widely used in food anti-oxidation and preservation enhancement, analytical chemistry titration, household descaling and cleaning, etc., becoming a basic functional chemical connecting “daily use” with “health, food and scientific research”.
